Complications from cosmetic and obesity surgery abroad are costing the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) nearly £20,000 per patient, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Cardiff and Bangor universities reviewed 37 studies covering 655 patients treated by the NHS between 2011 and 2024 for complications following overseas procedures, including bariatric surgery, tummy tucks, and breast enlargement. The research, published in BMJ Open, found that the cost per patient ranged from £1,058 to £19,549, with hospital stays lasting up to 49 days. Average length of stay for metabolic and bariatric surgery was 17 days.

Most patients were women (90%) with an average age of 38, and Turkey was the most common destination (61%). The most reported procedures included sleeve gastrectomy, breast enlargement, and tummy tucks. At least 53% of patients experienced moderate to severe complications, which can include infected wounds, sepsis, multiple organ failure, hypoxic brain injury, and death.

The study’s authors warned that the scale of the problem is likely underestimated due to limited data. They highlighted that UK doctors often lack full surgical notes, making treatment challenging. They also noted that costs beyond hospital care, such as GP visits and pharmacy consultations, are not included.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England has also called for national data to understand the problem. Vice-President Professor Vivien Lees said: “Too often people are drawn in by cut-price deals and glossy online marketing, only to return with serious, sometimes life-changing complications… It should not be the role of the NHS to routinely mop up the mistakes of private providers overseas.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said the government was cracking down on dangerous medical tourism and engaging with foreign governments to improve patient safety. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has advised Britons considering cosmetic procedures abroad to “think carefully before taking up offers that are too good to be true”, noting the pressure such cases place on the NHS.

Several high-profile deaths have occurred in recent years following overseas surgery, underscoring the risks.

With facilities and countries competing for a share in the medical tourism market, the ITIJ team recently asked experts to share their strategies for success.

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